S.F. Cherry Blossom Festival raises $200,000

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, April 17, 2011

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade heads down Post Street in San Francisco on Sunday.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade heads down Post Street in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Katie Kumazawa, 5, of Mojave wears a traditional Japanese kimono while waiting for the parade to start at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Katie Kumazawa, 5, of Mojave wears a traditional Japanese kimono while waiting for the parade to start at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate perform on the Peace Plaza before the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate perform on the Peace Plaza before the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Cherry trees line the Peace Plaza on Post Street. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival was held in San Francisco on Sunday.

Cherry trees line the Peace Plaza on Post Street. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival was held in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Members of the Anime Costume Parade march down Post Street at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Members of the Anime Costume Parade march down Post Street at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Festival-goers sign a banner for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami underneath cherry blossom trees at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Festival-goers sign a banner for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami underneath cherry blossom trees at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Karishma Bordoni (left) and Kalpana Narlikar (right), both 5, sign a banner for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Karishma Bordoni (left) and Kalpana Narlikar (right), both 5, sign a banner for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Messages to the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami are displayed in the Peace Plaza at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Messages to the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami are displayed in the Peace Plaza at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Families carry banners with messages of peace and prayer for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Families carry banners with messages of peace and prayer for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Women from Nippon Minyo Buyo Renmai dance in the parade down Post street at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Women from Nippon Minyo Buyo Renmai dance in the parade down Post street at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Hello Kitty flashes peace signs to the crowd at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Hello Kitty flashes peace signs to the crowd at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Members of S.F. Taiko Dojo perform atop a float during the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Members of S.F. Taiko Dojo perform atop a float during the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Students from the Nihonmachi Little Friends school wave to the crowd as they walk in the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Students from the Nihonmachi Little Friends school wave to the crowd as they walk in the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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A Cherry Blossom Festival princess waves from a float during the parade in San Francisco on Sunday.

A Cherry Blossom Festival princess waves from a float during the parade in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate prepare to perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate prepare to perform at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

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Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate break boards with their hands before the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Demonstrators from Enshin-Karate break boards with their hands before the parade at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Sunday.

Photo: Anna Vignet, The Chronicle

S.F. Cherry Blossom Festival raises $200,000

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The events of Japantown's cherry blossom festival have always been intended to evoke and continue a rich heritage. Martial arts experts demonstrate karate, judo and kendo. There are exhibitions of calligraphy, flower arranging and tea ceremonies.

But this year the ties to a historical homeland were weighted with a tragedy the likes of which had not been seen in many years - the March tsunami and earthquake.

Many in the community had urged organizers to cancel the event in the wake of the catastrophic damage, said Allen Okamoto, general co-chairman of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. But organizers believed that the festival could be a way to raise awareness of the ongoing needs in Japan.

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